6, 4, 6, 6
That’s how Shashank Singh signed the IPL 2025 Punjab Kings campaign. But the mood at the Narendra Modi Stadium has already changed. When Josh Hazlewood started the final with two balls, Royal Challengers Bengaluru sensed ittheir wait, an eternity in IPL conditions, was finally coming to an end. For Punjab Kings, the script has already been written.
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Almost frozen from the dugout, Shreyas Iyer watched on, perhaps replaying the moment he would like back.
After scoring over 600 runs in the tournament, Shreyas faltered when it mattered most. When Romario Shepherd dismissed him for just one, RCB felt the door open and they didn’t need another invitation. What followed was history for them and heartbreak for PBKS. It brought back memories of 2014, another final, another near miss. Opportunities like this don’t come around often for the Punjab Kings and that’s why this one hurt a little more. PBKS finished runners-up in IPL 2025, missing out on a maiden title. (Photo: Reuters)
Had PBKS gone all the way, Shreyas would have become the first captain to win the IPL with two different franchises. That moment is gone. But the new season brings a reset. Last year it was RCB who ended the long wait. Now the question is simple, can Shreyas make it Punjab’s turn?
STRONGER THAN EVER
Shreyas Iyer enters IPL 2026 with one of the most balanced Punjab Kings units in recent years. There is continuity, there is clarity and more importantly there is belief after what they did last season.
Up top, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh offer stability, while the middle order has plenty of muscle and flexibility with Marcus Stoinis, Marc Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai and Shashank Singh. It’s a lineup that can adapt to the situation, something PBKS has often lacked in the past. Shreyas Iyer will be looking to win his second IPL title, this time with PBKS. (Photo: X/PBKS)
With the ball, Arshdeep Singh continues to pace the attack while Yuzvendra Chahal adds control and experience in the middle overs. It’s a unit that looks a lot more rounded than before, with options to mix and match.
The mini auction only added to that depth. Players like Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Pravin Dubey and Vishal Nishad bolster the bench and give Shreyas different combinations to work with in different conditions.
CAN SHREYAS INSPIRE PUNJAB?
Ahead of the tournament, former cricketer Aakash Chopra hinted that even an IPL title with the Punjab Kings may not elevate Shreyas Iyer to the same category as captains like MS Dhoni or Rohit Sharma.
But the narrative probably doesn’t matter much to Shreyas. For the past few years, he had gone about things quietly, keeping the noise down and concentrating on work. Getting PBKS to the playoffs after a 10-year hiatus in his first season as captain speaks volumes for his impact.
There is also a pattern. In 2020, Shreyas led Delhi Capitals to second place alongside Ricky Ponting. He did the same with Punjab Kings in 2025. Twice close, twice denied.
Perhaps in 2026, this story will finally change.
When PBKS take on Gujarat Titans on March 31, the weight of expectation will be there again. But this time it’s a little different. Not as a team that hopes things will fall into place, but as a team that knows it has the pieces. For Shreyas, it’s not about rewriting history, it’s about completing what he’s already come close to twice.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
March 27, 2026 11:07 AM IST
